Luminous attachment for locks



Feb. 17, 1953 B. HEINZ LUMINOUS ATTACHMENT FOR LOCKS Filed July 17, 1950 Bernarifi Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a luminous attachment for locks, and more particularly, to a supplemental escutcheon plate adapted to be applied to a conventional lock to render the same visible in the dark.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of an improved accessory for escutcheon plates, of luminous character, whereby the insertion of a key into the keyhole in darkness is facilitated.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a plate provided with a beveled aperture serving further to guide th key into the keyhole.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such an accessory which may be readily applied to a conventional lock with a minimum of effort and difficulty.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and shown in the accompanying drawing wherein there are disclosed preferred embodiments of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a front elevational view of one form of construction embodying the instant inventive concept.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the construction of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure l as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure i is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a front plan view partially broken away of a modified form of the construction.

Figure 6 is a rear view of the escutcheon plate of Figure 5, and

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1--'l of Figure 5 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the modification shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, there i generally indicated at W a fragment of a door or the like provided interiorly with a bore I I (see Figure 3) in which there is adapted to be positioned a lock cylinder 42 of conventional design. The cylinder [2 includes a barrel l3 and a keyhole l4 provided with a tapering bevel l5 thereabout to facilitate insertion of a key therein. The lock barrel is provided with a conventional bezel l6 surround- 2 Claims. (01. 250-76) ing a center escutcheon plate I! thereof which bezel serves to prevent Withdrawal of the look toward the rear of the bore I I.

A clamping plate It is provided on the opposite side of the door from bezel I1 and is apertured for the reception of holding screws l9 which are adapted to hold the lock within the bore. The device of the instant invention comprises a face plate or escutcheon 20 preferably of circular configuration and of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the bezel l6 and escutcheon plate I! of the lock proper. Escutcheon plate 20 is preferably comprised of any desired luminous plastic such a Lucite or the like, and is provided with an undercut peripheral groove 2i which is adapted to be engaged by a corresponding peripheral groove 22 in a split clamping frame, oppositely disposed semi-circu lar sections thereof being indicated at 23.

Clamping ring 23 includes a vertical flange 24 containing the groove 22 and the horizontal flange 25, the arrangement being such that in the use of the assembly of the device, horizontal flange 25 overlies bezel Hi.

In the use and assembly of the device, rear plate 18 i loosened by suitable rotation of the screws l9 permitting bezel IE to be moved for wardly of the door IE] to a sufiicient distance to insertion of the flange 25 thereunder; the separate halves of the split coupling ring 23 are then positioned firmly about the supplemental escutcheon plate 2!], and by the engagement of the grooves 22 and 2!, serve to hold plate 20 securely against the face of the lock. Obviously, retightening of the screws l9 will serve to secure the parts in firm related assembly. Escutcheon plate 26 is provided with a centrally disposed aperture 26 which surrounds the barrel l3, and the edge of the aperture 26 is beveled as at 21 to further facilitate the insertion of a key in the keyhole l 4.

A modified form of construction is disclosed in Figure 5 wherein there is shown a door Iila apertured to receive a lock 12a, which lock is provided with a bezel 56a and a face plate Ila. A look barrel ita comprises an integral portion of the lock and is provided with a keyhole I la about which is positioned a bezel 15a, all substantially identical to the correspondingly numbered parts the foregoing modification. However, in the modification disclosed, Figures 5 to 7 inclusive. the luminous plastic plate 23a is provided with a permanently fixed clamping ring 33, which includes an outer peripheral flange 3! extending about the luminous escutcheon plate 23a, and a flange S2 and an interior flange 33 adapted to overlie the bezel 16a. In this modification the lower portion of the clamping ring 39 is cut away as shown in Figures 5 and 6 as at 35 to provide a passage of a Width substantially equal to the diameter of the escutcheon plate Ila, but less than the diameter of the bezel 16a whereby the interior flange 33 may be secured beneath the bezel in a manner similar to that of the flange 25 of the previously described split clamping ring 23.

The escutcheon plate of this modification is also provided with a central aperture 26a provided peripherally With a bevel 21a about the barrel [3a in a manner similar to that previously discussed.

Obviously in the assembly of this device the clamping plate may be loosened as previously described to permit the positioning of the luminous escutcheon plate over the face of the lock.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided a device which accomplishes all the objects of this invention and others including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept and as many modifications may be made in the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In an attachment for looks of that type including an escutcheon plate and a bezel, a luminous supplemental escutcheon plate overlying the escutcheon plate, and means for securing said supplemental plate to said escutcheon plate, said means including a split clamping ring, a V-shaped peripheral groove in said supplemental plate, a coacting peripheral opposed V-shaped projection in said ring and a flange carried by said separable ring engaging under said bezel.

2. In an attachment for locks of that type including an escutcheon plate and a bezel, a luminous supplemental escutcheon plate overlying the escutcheon plate, and means for securing said supplemental plate to said escutcheon plate, said means including a split clamping ring, a peripheral V-shaped groove in said supplemental plate, a coacting V-shaped peripheral projection on said ring adjacent the outer edge thereof, and a flange carried by the inner side of said rin engaging under said bezel, said supplemental escutcheon plate including a beveled aperture for guiding a key into the keyhole of said lock.

BERNARD HEINZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following" references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date M9324 Fish Jan, 1%, 1890 1,243,518 iarvey Oct. 16, 191'? 1,385,300 Bohrdt July 19, 1921 1,850,550 Johnson Mar. 22, 1932 2,076,004 Ringseis Apr. 6, 1937 2,188,254 Fordyce Jan, 23, 1940 2,579,146 Heinz Dec. 18, 1951 

